Once I was TEFL certified, I then went looking for the biggest and most trustworthy company I could find. Luckily, I got the job teaching English in China with EF, and the rest is history.

Apart from working in marketing, what other kinds of careers can you move into after a successful teaching stint in China?

I think the biggest advantage to working at EF is the career advancement opportunities.

I know that smaller companies can help you to climb up into some form of management, but at EF, I think there are way more possibilities.

All of EF’s teaching materials are made in-house. That means they need teams of course writers and product developers to create the teaching syllabus and materials.

After a year of teaching at the company, anyone can apply for a position where they can create lessons, write courseware and design products.

Teaching in China can open up career doors (pictured: EF kids class in action).

In addition, teachers can move into recruitment, marketing, web development and much more.

As the company is global, there are opportunities to work in all areas of education and industry, as well as the standard teaching route such as senior teacher, director of studies and regional manager.

What do you say to people who don’t regard teaching abroad as a good career move?

I hear this a lot.

On the whole, the TEFL industry has mixed reviews, but I think this is outdated.

As well as the job opportunities in the industry that I have just mentioned, I think the teaching side to TEFL has a lot of opportunity, and it is a rewarding job.

I think there’s a lot of pressure on people these days to get a great corporate job, become an entrepreneur or a start-up founder, earn lots of money, and flaunt it on social media.

In TEFL, this won’t happen, and I think that’s a good thing.

A career in China takes time to build, and people need to develop multiple skill sets in an increasingly international world.

As a TEFL teacher, you will get better at working with people, because you will be with them every day.

Your communication skills will improve, you will have to learn to adapt, and this is what employers are looking for.

Your people skills will improve while teaching in China.

At EF’s HQ, the majority of international staff used to teach. The company wouldn’t hire former TEFL teachers if they thought they weren’t up to it.

So, I would say that everyone’s journey is different, there are plenty of opportunities, and TEFL can shape your career. But this will only happen to those who are motivated enough to take advantage of it.

On the teaching side, the more experience you get, the more places you can teach and the more money you can earn. It all comes with time and it is a career with legs if you want it to be.

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